A related discussion,
Chlamydia Test Conclusive? was started.
Hi Dr. Garcia,
Thanks for your response, I will ask my doctor if he can order me a duo test at 6 month, maybe its an overkill, but I just want to be 100% of my status. I've heard somewhere that duo test's sensitivity is a little less than stand along antibody test, is it true? If so, what are the chances of false positive on the duo test compare to just the antibody test?
I honestly would doubt that very much. It is something that we really never see in clinical practice. However if you still have your doubts, you could always have a HIV Duo or Combo test, which tests for the p24 antigen, or a PCR RNA test. These tests are totally independent of your immune system and would always be detectable in the unlikely case of no sero-conversion.
Your encounter was protected. Therefore there would be no riks or very little risk. Certainly no risk of Hepatitis B and I would not recommend testing.
Herpes can still be transmitted even when using protection. However if you have not had symptoms, it is quite unlikely that you have contracted it. However if you wanted testing, the serology test can be considered conclusive, if negative after 12 weeks. If positive for HSV-2, one could not tell if this has been contracted in this episode or before, unless you had had a negative serology previously. It is very possible that you might be positive for HSV-1 already as most people are anyway. Therefore a herpes test would have certain limitations as mentioned here.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Thank you for your answers doctor, that was really comforting. I still have concerns on how can I know for sure that I'm not one of those infected person who never produce antibodies?
Do you also think I should be tested for herpes 1 and 2 and hepatitis B? Thank you.
Hello,
Thank you very much for your post. I will answer each of your questions here below:
1.) Your negative antibody test after 12 weeks is final and fully conclusive. You DO NOT need any further tests.
2.) I would disagree with those statistics. In my opinion, the relaibility of these tests at 12 weeks is over 99.9%. As an individual who is otherwise healthy without any serious health issues, we can rule out that you would have had any problems with sero-conversion by 12 weeks. I do not believe that you need to be concerned.
3.) That is absurd and totally irrational, I do not believe that anything like that could happen.
4.) Those tests are all conclusive and cover practically all relevant STDs. No need to have any more tests.
5.) Not at all. Impossible. In any case, I can assure you that you are HIV negative without any doubt. After all, you did not put yourself at risk in the first place as it was protected.
Best wishes,
Dr José